gilmour



1956 R. A. GILMOUR OPENING DEVICE FOR TEARING STRIP CAN Filed July 7, 1955 IN VEN TOR.

v 0 M M M R 6 o T h T T H R E Kw 5 I 2/ dSta e t n 5 OPENING DEVICE FOR TEARING STRIP CAN I the circular peripheral surface of a can 6, against which I Robert-A. Gilmour, Somerset, Pa.

Application July 7, 1953 SerialNo. 366,481 4 Claims. (Cl.22052) This invention, relatesto a can opener somewhat of the type disclosed in myco-pendin'g application for Letters Patent of the United States, bearing filing date March 31, 1953, and Serial Number 345,869. The present invention is also] designed and intended forfacilitating the removal 'of the sealing strips of conventional types of vacuum sealed cans, but it is also adaptable for use in connection with large-sized cans, as used by institutions, grocery markets and ,the like, and which cannot be supported by one hand ofthe operator during the can opening operations.

In the usual method employed for removing the sealing strip from a vacuum sealed can by means of a conventional key only, there is always a tendency of the con; volutions of the coiling sealing strip to shift from their superimposed relation to each other, and under such conditions often renders it extremely. difficult to complete the sealing strip removal operation. I

Important objects and advantages of the invention are to provide a can opener of the character described, which will function to uniformly coil the convolutions, of the sealing strip being removed, accurately upon each other without deviation, and in consequencefacilitate and expedite the complete removal of the sealing strip from the can, which may be used in connection with most any size of can, and which may be conveniently and readily operated by anyone of ordinary skill. I Y

Patented Jan. 24, 1956 respect totli'e bracket, and by which the device may be secured'a'ga'inst the surface of a supporting structure by means of screws or the like.

The free forward end edges of the guide plates 1 and 2 are preferably formed withaslightconcave curvature,

as indicated at5, to adapt said edges, to a degree, to

The slots 7 and 8 are disposed parallel to each other and have their forwardends positioned adjacent to the forward freeje ndsjof respective guide plates and centrally of the widths of the latter. I v v The guide plate 1 is disposed above the associated guide plate 2, and extends in'alignment with the supporting bracket 3. A flat bearing bar 9 is mounted flatly, in the longitudinal direction, against the top face of the guide plate 1, and is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 10 in the rearward end portion thereof.

A headed screw 11; or the like, extends through the" slot 10 and is fixed'in the'guide plate 1. The engage- 'ment of the screw 11 in the slot 10 allows the longitudinal movement of the bearing bar 9, but prevents the.

lateral displacement or, removal of the latter from the The rearward end of the caring bar 9 is formed with an upturned seating lug 12, and a similarly disposed seating lug 13 is carried by the supporting bracket 3 adjacent to the rearward end of the latter. A spiral spring 14 is.

mounted between the lugs 12 and 13, and has the ends thereof seated against the opposed faces of the latter, as

Further objects of the invention are to provide a device of the class stated, which is simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, durable .and efiicient in itsuse, and. com-. paratively economical in .its manufacture and maintenance With the foregoing and other objects in view which will that changes in the-form; proportions .and details 'of co nstruction may be resorted to that-come-within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.- 3 e In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a top plan view of a can opener constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a forward end view thereof.

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the can opener attached to a supporting member, and illustrating its operative position with a can.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary side elevational view of the free end portion of the'operating shaft.

Figure 5 is an end view of the operating shaft.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved can opener comprises a pair of spaced, parallel disposed guide plates, respectively indicated at 1 and 2. The guide plates are fiat and are carried at the forward end of a horizontally disposed supporting bracket 3, and project forwardly from the latter. The bracket includes an apertured attaching plate 4, which is disposed at right-angles with clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.' The normal action of the spring 14 tends to return the bearing bar 9 tothe forward position on the guide plate 1 and to hold said bearing bar in suchqforward position, asshown in Figure 1. T

' A verticallydisposedoperating shaft 15 extends re-. volubly and removablythrough the slots 7 and 8,. in respective guide plates 1 and 2, and through an aperture provided therefor in thevforward end of .the bearing bar 9. It will here be .noted that the action of the spring 14, through the bearin'glbar' 9, will tend-to forcibly maintain the operating shaft 15 in position against the forward end walls of the slots 7 and 8 ,in respective guide plates.

The free end portionof the operating shaft 15, 'that extends through. the slots .7 and 8 of the guide plates, is provided with a' longitudinally extendingslot 16, which is open at the free end of the operating shaft andprovided for the purpose hereinaftervdescribed.

The operatingshaft 15 carries a fixed collar 17.to limit the inward movement of the operating shaft through the slots 7 and. 8. in the guide plates, but which allows the free withdrawal. of the. operating shaft from the guide plates when required.

The operating shaft is joined with a crank arm 18, which is provided with an operating handle 19 for manually imparting rotation to the operating shaft 15 when effecting can opening operations.

The slotted free end portion of the operating shaft 15 is formed with a flat bevel 20 to provide a comparatively sharp edge 21 along the side edge of the slot wall that bears the edge engaged in providing the first flexure in the free end portion 22 of the sealing strip 23 surrounding the can 6, to thereby assure the ready fiexure of said end portion 22 and prevent possible slippage of the latter in the slot 16 at the start of the can opening operation.

The can opener, when used only for opening smaller sized cans that can be supported and rotated by one hand of the operator during the can opening operation, is preferably permanently secured at a suitable location to some suitable supporting structure.

T o adapt the can opener for use in opening larger sized cans, that cannot be supported by one hand during the opening operation, a supporting standard 27 is provided and fixed in the upright position by an attaching plate 24 to somesultable Supporting strncture25 in any suitable means. Each side edge of the standard' '27 is formed to provide an. inturned flange 26 for 'frictionally engaging respective side edgeso'f'the attachingplate 4 of the supporting bracket .3, aslsh'own in Figures 1 and 3. By this arrangement the can opener may be variably adjusted to the proper elevation to' best meet Conditions found in practice, and supported in such position during thecan opening operation. When so supported by the standard, the-operator needonly rotate the can while operating the can opener.

In practice, the operation of the improved can opener is as follows: Assuming'that all parts of the device are in the positions shown in the drawing, the operator places the can 6 against the free ends of the guide plates 1 and 2 to position the sealing strip 23 between the end of the guide plates. The usual free end22 of the sealing strip is then inserted through the open slot 16. inthe operating shaft 15 in the direction whereby the rotation of the latter in the clockwise direction will function to tear the sealing strip from .the can and wind said sealing strip, in coiled formation, upon'the slotted free end portion of the operating shaft between the guide plates. During such removal of the sealing strip, the operating shaft, with the coil winding thereon, will be suitably stabilized by the continuous forward thrust exerted thereon by the spring actuated bearing bar 9 on its slotted connection on the guide plate 1, and the sealing strip will coil uniformly without liability of untoward lateral deviation of the convolutions with respect to each other. As the coil enlarges upon the operating shaft, the latter, with the winding coil, will shift inwardly in the guide slots 7 and 8to provide suitable clearance for the enlarging coil within the confines of the guide plates, and the bearing bar 9 will also be shifting rearwardly on its slotted connection on the guide plate 1 against the tension of the spring 14.

To remove the coiled sealing strip 23 from its engagement on the free slotted end portion of the operating shaft 15 after the can opening operation has been completed, it is only necessary to withdraw the operating shaft from "the guide plates 1 and .2, whereby the .free end portion 22 of the sealing strip is disengaged from the open slot 16 in the operating shaft, and thefcoiled sealing strip is released and removed from the operating shaft.

The present invention provides a most ellicient device of its kind, which may be economically constructed and successfully employed for the purposes and in the manner herein set forth.

"What 'I claim is:

l. A can opener of the class described, comprising, in combination, a pair of'flat guide plates-joined together in spaced relation to each other and being 'providedwith parallel longitudinally extending slots, a spring controlled bearing element mounted "for longitudinal movement on one of said plates, a removable operating shaft revolubly mounted in said slots and in said element, the free end portion of said shaft being provided with a longitudinally disposed open slot extending between said spaced plates, manually operable means carried by said shaft for rotating the latter in said plates and in said element, and a supporting bracket fixed to said plates and including means for securing same to a supporting structure.

2. A can opener of the class described, comprising, in combination, a pair of fiat guide plates joined together in spaced relation to each other and being provided with parallel longitudinally extending slots, a spring actuated bearing element shiftably mounted on one of said plates, a removable shaft vrevolubly mounted in said slots and in said element, said element operable for exerting a forward thrust on said shaft, the free end portion of said shaft being provided with a longitudinally disposed open slot extending between said plates, manually operable means carried by said shaft forrotating the latter in said slotsand in said element, and a bracket member for securing the device to a supporting structure.

3. A can opener of the class described, comprising in combination, a pair of fiat guide plates joined together in spaced relation to each other and being provided with parallel longitudinally extending slots, a removable shaft having a free end revolubly mounted in said slots, a spring actuated bearing element shiftably mounted on one of said plates and operable for exerting a continuous forward thrust on said shaft in said slots, the free end portion of said shaft being provided with a longitudinally disposed open slot extending'between said spaced plates when said shaft is engaged in said slots, manually operable means carried by said shaft for rotating the latter in said plates, a vertically disposed standard member, and a supporting bracket fixedly connected with said plates and having an adjustable attachment with said standard member.

4. A can opener of the class described, comprising a pair of guide plates joined together in spaced relation to each other and being provided with parallel longitudinally extending slots, a spring actuated bearing element shiftably mounted on one of said plates, a removable operating shaft revolubly mounted in said slots and in said element, said elementoperable for exerting a forward thrust on said shaft in said slots, the free end portion of said shaft being provided with a longitudinally disposed open slot extending between said plates, manually operable means carried by said shaft for rotating the latter in said slots and in said element, and a bracket member for securing the device to a supporting structure, the slotted free end of said shaft being formed with a fiat bevel extending from-the side edge of one Wall of said open slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Taylor Dec. ll, 1951 

